Understanding the role and deployment of volunteers within specialist palliative care services and organisations as they have adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-national EAPC volunteer taskforce survey.

Background: Early indications were of a major decline in specialist palliative care volunteer numbers during COVID-19. It is important that ongoing deployment and role of volunteers is understood, given the dependence of many palliative care services on volunteers for quality care provision.

Aim: To understand the roles and deployment of volunteers in specialist palliative care services as they have adjusted to the impact of COVID-19.

Comprehensive care for people living with heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-Integration of palliative care with disease-specific care: From guidelines to practice.

Heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the leading global epidemiological, clinical, social, and economic burden. Due to similar risk factors and overlapping pathophysiological pathways, the coexistence of these two diseases is common. People with severe COPD and advanced chronic HF (CHF) develop similar symptoms that aggravate if evoking mechanisms overlap.

Pharmaceutical care in the neonatal intensive care unit: Perspectives of Polish medical and pharmacy students.

Introduction: The concepts of ward-based pharmaceutical care as well as collaborative practice are still relatively novel in Poland, particularly in specialty areas of practice such as the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The purpose of this study was to identify the opinions and perceptions of Polish medical and pharmacy students towards the provision of pharmaceutical care services in the NICU as well as pharmacist integration into the ward-based multi-disciplinary NICU treating team.

Methods: A cross-sectional, mixed-method survey was distributed among medical and pharmacy students at a large Polish medical university.

Perspectives of Hospital Pharmacists Towards Biosimilar Medicines: A Survey of Polish Pharmacy Practice in General Hospitals.

Introduction: There has been a significant increase in the volume of biosimilar medicines recently due to the expiries of patent protections of biologic medicines. Biosimilars are considered new medicines, and their usage in therapy is often associated with uncertainty from the perspectives of physicians, pharmacists and patients.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify hospital pharmacist opinions towards these new medicines and investigate their usage in practice.

Remote Ischemic Preconditioning in Renal Protection During Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) exerts protection in remote organs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of RIPC to prevent contrast induced nephropathy. One hundred and twenty four patients were randomized to elective percutaneous coronary intervention with or without RIPC.

Nationwide survey on volunteers' training in hospice and palliative care in Poland.

Background: Volunteers working in hospice and palliative care facilities in Poland undertake various activities which are performed in accordance with legal regulations and the individual policies of each hospice. The aim of this study was to explore the roles and training of volunteers working in hospice and palliative care settings.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out that investigated the services performed by volunteers and their preparation for work within residential hospices.

Pharmacoeconomic considerations regarding hospice and palliative care according to pharmacists and hospice managers.

This study focused on pharmacoeconomic issues affecting pharmacists in residential hospices in Poland. We conducted a questionnaire survey among hospice pharmacists and their managers. The results revealed that the amount of money received from the National Health Fund is insufficient for drug purchasing and therefore hospices often raise additional funds from external sources.

Institution of the health care agent in Polish legislation: position of the Polish Working Group on End-of-Life Ethics.

INTRODUCTION In numerous countries legislation has been put in place allowing citizens to appoint persons authorized to make medical decisions on their behalf, should the principal lose such decision‑making capacity. OBJECTIVES The paper aimed to prepare a draft proposal of legal regulations introducing into Polish legislation the institution of the health care agent. PATIENTS AND METHODS The draft proposal has been grounded in 6 expertise workshops, in conjunction with several online debates.

The role of a pharmacist in a hospice: a nationwide survey among hospice directors, pharmacists and physicians.

Background: Palliative care requires the collaborative efforts of an interdisciplinary team, and as such a range of health professionals should be involved in supporting patients with life-threatening diseases. As a part of this therapeutic network, pharmacists at residential hospices should be thoroughly involved in care, cooperate with other medical staff and perform pharmaceutical services in order to deliver safe and efficient pharmacotherapy.

Aim: To provide an overview of the current state of pharmacy practice at Polish residential hospices.

Clinical and conventional pharmacy services in Polish hospitals: a national survey.

Background: Pharmacist-led care services within the hospital pharmacy setting have a significant impact on efficient drug management processes. The work of pharmacists is directly associated with the provision of drugs and medical supplies along with additional clinical, administrative, organizational and educational duties. Depending on the country, these practice roles may differ to a significant extent.

[Clinical communication – a comparison of patients’ and doctors’ opinions].

Introduction: The main aim of the research was to assess medical communication from the point of view of clinicians and their patients.

Materials And Methods: 100 doctors and 378 patients were included in the study. Original tools prepared by the interdisciplinary team were used during the research.

Selected aspects of europeization of pharmaceutical law.

As one of its aspects, the process of European integration has an influence on the legal orders of the Member States, which is often referred to in the literature as the europeization of law. Upon Poland's accession to the structures of the European Union, there have also been radical changes to the Polish legal system. According to the concept of the sources of law in the Polish Constitution and to the judicial decisions of the European Court of Justice, Community law now takes priority over national law, even over acts of parliament.